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Determined to get back to the state tournament, the 2010 Class C2 Lady Plainsmen volleyball team is looking forward to seeing how the season unfolds.

Coach Penny Hite said the quick defense and experience behind the team will be a force to reckon with this season.

Although the team has lost senior Debbie Dahlkoetter to a shoulder injury, other members of the team are trained and ready to step up.

“Kristin Beck (junior) proved she is ready to step up (as setter) after illness struck the team last fall,” said Hite. “The girls looked really good this summer at team camp.” They faced many good teams from eastern Nebraska as well as from Kansas.

It is a year for change, said Hite, since the state tournament has been moved to the Grand Island/Hastings facilities.

Hite expects leadership from senior Jessica Day and 5-foot-10 junior Tanya Metcalf, in addition to the experienced Beck who was a former libero. Shalee Pollard, Gabrielle Patrick and Matisyn Humphrey also have a lot of experience.

“We have a very experienced team back and some newcomers that are going to make our team very salty,” said Hite. “We have a lot of height up front and power to go with it.”

Newcomers to be spotlighted this year are junior Tori Osler and sophomores Shania Metcalf and Michi Prante. SPVA competitors during the season include North Platte St. Pat’s, Hershey, Maxwell, Sutherland and Chase County.

Hite’s prediction of state powers and their classification are Papillion/LaVista South in Class A, Grand Island Northwest in Class B, Class C1 Minden and Class D1 Cambridge.